Key pad for wind instruments



Aug. 21, 1928. I 1,681,220

A. clcco'rgE,

KEY PAD FOR WIND INSTRUMENTS I Filed Oct. 28, 1924 Patented Aug. 21,1928.

warren srarss ANTHONY CICCONE, or

FOR-T VI'AYITE, INDIANA.

KEY PAD FOR'WINID IISTEUIVEENTS.

Application filed October 28, 1924. Serial No. 746,378.

My invention relates to saxophones and like wind instruments, and moreparticularly to valves or keys for stopping the ports or openingsthereof.

Keys of the type referred to usually have for a base a shallow meta-lcup inwhich seats a pad faced with a leather covering. The pad isordinarily of felt and is designed to cushion the impact of the key,while the'covering is usually of kid leather and wrapped over the pad toform a smooth, yet tough facing to act as a lid against the rim of theport or open ing in the side of the instrument. rescnt day methods offitting the key to such rim involve the binding of the key firmly to theinstrument until the facing has received an impression from the edge ofthe rim referred to, heating of such facing frequently being resorted toin order to'rendcr the facing more pliable whereby to yield to the edgeof the rim. Vi' hile asubstantially good fit of the key results from theabove treatment, the effect is but temporary, and the instrument soonbegins to'leak, as evidenced by false notes, squeaks and other noiseswhich interfere with the purity and mellow quality of thetones. Theimperfect fit of the key is due to deterioration of the facing onaccountof heat and moisture presentin the instrument. These elementscause the facing to become limp and uneven, whereby it fails to meet theedge of the port rim in places, so that leaks are occasioned.

It is the object of the present invention to remedy the chief defect inkeys of the current type, as above outlined, by providing the facingwith a special form which one properly shaped, controls the impressionin the facing, whereby the latter always assumes the shape of the formand therefore properly seats on the port rim.

A further object of the invention is to provide a form. of the characterreferred to which is impervious to moisture or the heat of theinstrument, to avoid deterioration.

Another object of the invention is to provide a form of the kindreferred to which is of utmost simplicity, and which involves nodeparture from the accepted design of the key.

Vith the above objects in mind, and others which may suggest themselveshereinafter, reference is had to the accompanying draw- Fig. 3 is across section showing the app-lication of the improved key to a windinstrument; and V Fig. 4 is a disassembled perspective'view of the partsmaking up the filling for the improved :ey.

Referring specifically to the drawing, 5 de notes the body of a.-saxophone or like wind instrument, 6 the rim of one of its ports oropenings,7 a key applicable to such port, 8 the bracket for the toy, and9 the shaft-rod which operates the key.

As mentioned, the shallow metal cup forms the base orfoundation for thekey 7 The filler for the cup is usuallymade of a round felt pad 10 and apatch 11 of kid leather, the latter being wrapped over the disk 10.gathered about the center, as indicated at 12, and sewed at 13 to holdfast. A cement is then applied whereby the filler will'adhere to the cupwhen inserted therein, as indicated in Fig. '3. The gathering of thecovering 11 makes the filler mound-shaped, the high portion filling thecup and the flat base forming the facing and projecting somewhat beyondthe edges of the cup.

The impression formed in the facing 11 upon striking the port rim 6indicated at 15, and the edge of such rim may be plain or somewhatreinforced bya bead 6 In order that the filler may be equipped with thespecial form to lend it the advantageous qualities above enumerated, adisk 16 of tinfoil, sheet-lead or the like is cemented between the pad10 and the patch 11 as the filler is as sembled. When the key is fittedto the instrument, it need be pressed but once upon its seat to give itsfacing the desired impression 15, this impression being in the presentinstance permanently uniform or true to its seat 6 whether the latter isplain or beaded. The firmness of the impression is due to the shapereceived by the disk 16, which thus acts as a backing or form for thekid leather facing 11. Since this form is impervious to moisture or theheat of the instrument, 1t retains its impression indefinitely, so thatupon the impact of the key the facing 11 will of necessity take theshape of the backing form 16 and seat properly. Also, the disk does notabsorb or deaden part of the musical vibrations, as is the case wheremerely the felt pad backs the facing.

The novel disk or form 16 need not be metal, although that has beenfound preferable. lVhatever the material it must be impervious tomoisture and the heat of the instrumentas mentioned beforeand of ayielding, tough, yet firm and non-resilient nature. The thickness of thedisk is so much as to lend it sufficient firmness without addingunnecessary bulk or weight.

A key is thus had which is highly efficient, yet adds but a trifle tothe cost of the presentday article and does not alter its form, beinginvisible from the outside. lVhile the pre ferred form of theimproven'ienthas been described and shown, it will be evident that minorchanges or refinements may suggest themselves without occasioning adeparture fromthe scope and spirit of the invention.

By means of my invention it is possible to crease the pad withoutheating. The creas ing may be accomplished in any desired manner. Ifdesired, the crease may be formed by simply placing the pad in positionon the instrument and then moving it to close the opening in connectionwith which it is used, thereby pressing it against the edge of saidopening. This pressure permanently creases the foil of the pad. The foilused is of such thickness as to receive and hold the crease and also tomaintain a corresponding crease in the pliable or kid facing, whichcrease is formed simultaneously with the crease in the foil. The pad ofthis invention maintains a tight seat or closure of the opening and willoperate satisfactorily for a long period with out warping or bulging orotherwise becoming defective.

I claim: 7

1. A key-pad for wind musical instruments comprising a filler cushion, apliable facing therefor, and a ply of permanent impressionretainingmaterial between the cushion and the facing.

2. A key-pad for wind musical instruments comprising a filler cushion, apliable facing therefor, and a ply of flexible, non-resilient metallicmaterial between the cushion and the facing "adapted to be deformed bypressure against the edge of the key opening.

3. A key-pad for wind musical instruments comprising a filler cushion, apliable facing therefor, and a ply of malleable metal between thecushion and the facing.

4. A key-pad for wind musical instruments comprising a filler cushion, apliable facing therefor, and a plyof metallic foil between the cushionand the facing. I

5. A key-pad for wind musical instruments comprising a filler cushion, apliable facing therefor, and a ply of tinfoil between the cushion andthe facing;

6. A key pad for wind instruments comprising a filler cushion of softmaterial, a thin pliable facing therefor adapted to be brought intocontact with the edge of the key opening in connection with which thepad is used, a piece of metal foil interposed between the facing and thecushion adapted to receive and hold a crease formed by the edge of thekey opening when the pad is pressed against said edge.

7. A key pad for wind instruments comprising a filler cushion of softmaterial, a. thin pliable facing therefor, adapted to be brought intocontact with the edge of the key opening in connection with which thepad is used, a piece of metal foil interposed bet-ween the facing andthe cushion adapted to receive and hold a crease formed by the edge ofthe key opening when the pad is pressed against said edge, said metalfoil being of such thickness as to hold and maintain a correspondingcrease in said pliable facing formed simultaneously with the crease inthe foil.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

ANTHONY CICCONE.

